When Joe and Cindy Simonds began growing azaleas and rhododendrons around their home on Church Road, they could never have imagined their hobby would give rise to one of the most progressive landscape design businesses in Baltimore County.
“They just did it for fun, and they found they liked it and began selling plants to friends along with landscaping services,” said Jay Simonds, the second-generation owner of Simonds Nursery.
The landscaping end of the family business grew steadily over the years, but it was not until Joe retired from civil engineering and his son, Jay, graduated from college that the business really took off.
“Within a matter of years, we bought an additional 15 acres and, seeing the market change, decided to open a retail center,” Jay Simonds said.
Today, Simonds still grows large plants and trees, but leaves most of the growing to regional wholesalers. Such a strategy makes sense, said Jay Simonds, because five- to seven-year growing cycles inhibited his business? ability to react aggressively to fast-changing trends.
The landscaping industry has changed dramatically in recent years, as homeowners are more interested than ever in making their homes? “outsides” more like their “insides,” he said.
“We provide more hardscaping services than ever,” said Simonds, using the newfangled word used to describe increasingly popular yard amenities, such as intricate patios, walkways, walls, waterfalls, advanced lighting and quasi-kitchens for outdoor extravaganzas.
Simonds has incorporated such trends into its recently renovated garden center. The $75,000 project included new, solid walking surfaces to create a more enjoyable shopping experience for customers ? 80 percent of whom are women. Visitors will also find a vivid new orange interior, in line with this year?s trend of boldly colored plants.
“Last year, we saw pale blues selling most, but this year it?s all about bold, strong colors ? yellows, reds, purples. It?s difficult to keep the purple salvia in stock,” Simonds said.
Simonds Nursery is a member of the Reisterstown/Owings Mills/Glyndon Chamber of Commerce and the Maryland Nursery & Landscape Association, which acts as a voice for the industry and provides the latest information on state legislation.
Simonds Nursery
» 1141 Berrymans Lane
Reisterstown, Md. 21136
» Phone: 410-833-5077
» www.simondsnursery.com/
» Employees: 25
